How many chicks can a broody care for?

[kathyinmo]

I have a couple broodies who have been sitting on golf balls the past couple weeks. When I candled them I didn't see any development, so I thought I would replace them with some chicks I just hatched. One is a Silkie and the other is a Silver Laced Wyandotte. I have 24 chicks. How many do you think these two girls can care for?

 

[CCourson05]

10-14 each.

Did you really say you candled the golf balls?

 

[781Chicks]

 

[greenfamilyfarms]

I find that it depends on the particular hen. I have a Buff Orp hen that will care for several (12+) chicks without a problem. Then I have another that can't handle that many - last year her max brood was 5.

 

[kathyinmo]

Quote:
Well of course I did. I was told Silkies could hatch a rock, so I was testing the theory with golf balls.

 

[Caliphe]

Quote:
Well of course I did. I was told Silkies could hatch a rock, so I was testing the theory with golf balls.

 

[sunny & the 5 egg layers]

Quote:
Well of course I did. I was told Silkies could hatch a rock, so I was testing the theory with golf balls.

Haha!!!!

 

[tazcat70]

I lock mine up for the first couple of weeks for the babies to be more aware of what is going on around them. I have had mommas moving around and lose a baby that wasn't paying attention. Since locking them up for the first couple weeks it works much better.

 

[Anianna]

According to a flyer with information from the Oregon Experiment Station, they make setting houses that serve two hens each. When the chicks hatch, they put 20 under each hen and put any hens left without chicks back into the flock for a total of 40 chicks per house of 2 hens. The flyer can be downloaded at http://successwithpoultry.blogspot.com/ from the April 27, 2011 blog entry.

 

[TigerLilly]

Quote:
Well of course I did. I was told Silkies could hatch a rock, so I was testing the theory with golf balls.

this place is on a roll today!